Combatting Animal Diseases in Zimbabwe
Despite generous endowments of natural resources and highly suitable land for growing a wide variety of crops and livestock, Zimbabwe faces food insecurity and has experienced decades of economic decline. Livestock is a main agricultural activity in Zimbabwe and plays an important role in the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, especially in rural areas. The livestock sector has enormous potential for growth and could contribute to overall rural development, sustained growth and poverty reduction, but it is hindered by low productivity, high disease morbidity and mortality. This project aimed to create a more productive smallholder livestock sector by improving livestock health and production and targeting disease control in two districts, Lupane and Nkayi.
What did the project do
By engaging farmers, technical staff, and public institutions in capacity building and awareness raising, the project enhanced the recognition, prevention and control of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and transboundary animal diseases (TADs) among stakeholders. Cattle vaccines were procured and administered, and materials on animal diseases were produced in English and IsiNdebele and disseminated in target districts. Farmer and staff training activities on sampling of TADs, tick collection and identification, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and acaricide resistance testing were carried out, and the production of TBD vaccines was initiated.Impact
As a result of the project, capacities for staff from the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services (DLVS) and National Parks and Wildlife Authority on animal health control activities were enhanced. The procurement of laboratory materials will help further improve the integrated management, and cost reduction, of tick and TBD controls. Eventual reductions in livestock mortality from disease will also contribute to enhancing food, work and livelihoods for smallholders and local communities in the future.Activities
- Capacities enhanced for government staff, including field and laboratory demonstrations.
- Training on disease recognition, prevention, controls, sample collection, packaging and preservation for TBDs and TADs carried out.
- Development and dissemination of materials on African Swine Fever (ASF), anaplasmosis, brucellosis, anthrax, FMD, heartwater, babesiosis, rabies and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) produced in English, and ASF, PPR and brucellosis in IsiNdebele.
- Procurement of laboratory materials, equipment and vaccines and cattle vaccines distributed and administered.